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AAPI’s Women’s Leadership Forum Highlights ‘Celebrating Women of Excellence’

Women are leading the way in economic empowerment, strengthening educational institutions, and amplifying their voices in politics. They have overcome numerous obstacles and demonstrated their ability to contribute significantly to the betterment of the world, achieving milestones never before seen in human history. The AAPI Women’s Leadership Forum focused on “Celebrating Women of Excellence.” Each speaker at the forum shared their personal journey to professional success. Smriti Irani spoke about breaking numerous glass c ..... Read More

PM Modi Congratulates Abhinav Bindra on Olympic Order Award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has applauded Abhinav Bindra, the acclaimed shooter and IOC member, for being honored with the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Bindra, who made history in 2008 as the first Indian to win an individual gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event, will receive this prestigious award during the Paris Olympic Games starting Friday. The Olympic Order is awarded for outstanding contributions to the Olympic movement and its values. Prime Minister Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to exp ..... Read More

Dr. Oz Keynote on “Living the Good Life” at AAPI Congress

Dr. Mehmet Oz, renowned surgeon, educator, television personality, former U.S. Senate candidate, and best-selling author, delivered the keynote address at the inaugural World Health Congress. This event, organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), took place at the iconic Marriott Marquee in Times Square, New York City, on July 19, 2024. Dr. Oz captivated the audience of over 1,000 AAPI delegates in the Broadway Ballroom with his 30-minute talk on “Living the Good Life,” where he shared valuable i ..... Read More

Georgia Senate Candidate Ramaswami Condemns Racist Acts

Ashwin Ramaswami, a candidate for the Georgia State Senate in District 48, has spoken out against the recent racist attacks targeting South Asian individuals in the US, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Usha Vance. He expressed deep concern over the racist incidents involving Hindu American Usha Vance and Sikh American Harmeet Dhillon at the GOP Convention, as well as the derogatory comments made by Republicans towards Vice President Harris based on her race. Ramaswami emphasized the importance of respecting diverse perspectives and ..... Read More

Budget 2024: India Reduces Fiscal Deficit Target to 4.9% for 2024-25

Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, has revised the fiscal deficit target for 2024-25 to 4.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a reduction from the 5.1% projected in the interim budget. The fiscal deficit, which represents the shortfall between government expenditures and revenues, will see total receipts for FY25 estimated at approximately $383.34 billion (Rs. 32.07 trillion). In contrast, total expenditures are projected to reach around $576.26 billion (Rs. 48.21 trillion). To finance this deficit, the governm ..... Read More

India’s Reliance Wins U.S. Approval to Import Venezuelan Oil

India’s Reliance Industries has secured approval from the United States to resume importing oil from Venezuela, despite ongoing sanctions. This development follows the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector in April due to President Nicolas Maduro’s failure to uphold election promises. Although the U.S. had reimposed sanctions, some companies were granted licenses to continue trading with Venezuela. The U.S. Treasury Department did not provide any comments, and Reliance has yet to respond to inquiries about ..... Read More

Indian-Origin MP Condemns Khalistani Extremists Amid Temple Vandalism

On Wednesday, a prominent Canadian MP of Indian descent criticized the growing influence of Khalistani extremists in Canada, claiming they are “polluting” the nation by misusing the freedoms granted under the Charter of Rights. This statement followed an incident where the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton was vandalized with anti-India graffiti. Chandra Arya, MP for Nepean and a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, highlighted the incident on social media. He condemned the temple vandalism and expressed ..... Read More

Paes and Amritraj Make History as First Asian Men in Tennis Hall of Fame

Former Indian tennis stars Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj have made history as the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Paes entered the Hall as a player, while Amritraj was honored in the contributor category. The induction ceremony took place in Newport, USA, on Saturday, where veteran British journalist Richard Evans was also celebrated. The event featured a lineup of tennis legends, including Paes’ former doubles partner, Martina Navratilova, as well as Grand Slam champions Andre Agassi, Chris Evert, S ..... Read More

Adani Green Energy Unveils 250 MW Wind Power at World’s Largest Renewable Hub

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) announced on Wednesday that it has successfully launched the initial 250 MW of wind capacity at the Khavda renewable energy plant in Gujarat, which is the largest of its kind in the world with a total capacity of 30,000 MW (30 GW). This achievement brings the cumulative operational capacity at the Khavda site to 2,250 MW, reinforcing AGEL’s position as a leader in India with the largest operational portfolio of 11,184 MW. The Khavda plant benefits from exceptional wind resources, with speeds reaching 8 me ..... Read More

India Leads Regional Security in BIMSTEC, Enhances Cooperation

India has taken a significant step in boosting regional security cooperation by assuming the role of lead country for security sector collaboration within the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). This development was underscored during the Senior Officials’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, which was held to prepare for the upcoming 4th Meeting of BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs. The gathering in Myanmar’s capital aimed to strategize and coordinate efforts to tackle common security challenges fa ..... Read More

Bera, Jayapal, Khanna Boycott Netanyahu’s Congress Address

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gears up to address a joint session of Congress, a significant faction of Democratic lawmakers have decided to abstain. This boycott arises amid escalating tensions in Gaza and growing concerns over Netanyahu’s policies. U.S. Representative Ami Bera (D-CA) voiced his reasons for not attending in a statement, citing his deep concern for Israel’s future and the heart-wrenching pleas from families of American hostages held by Hamas. Bera emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, the rel ..... Read More

India, US Unite to Counter China Threat: USISPF President Aghi

Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, highlighted the converging interests of India and the United States in response to China’s assertive stance. Speaking to ANI, Aghi emphasized that the growing threat from China is a key factor aligning the two nations. He noted that this partnership is crucial for both countries to effectively address Chinese aggression. Aghi described the multifaceted nature of India-US relations, encompassing geopolitical, economic, technological, and cultural dimensions. He stressed ..... Read More

Kartik Aaryan Opens Up on Tough Auditions: ‘It Felt Like I Didn’t Exist’

Kartik Aaryan recently impressed fans with his remarkable transformation in the sports drama ‘Chandu Champion’. Reflecting on his journey from loneliness and failed auditions to stardom, Kartik shared his early struggles on the second season of ‘Be A Man, Yaar’ hosted by Nikhil Taneja. He described the harsh reality of the audition process, saying, “It is very harsh. It’s like you don’t exist. Lagta tha ki aapki koi value hai nahi.” The constant fear of being deemed ‘unfit’ weighed ..... Read More

Navin Girishankar to Lead CSIS’s New Economic and Tech Security Department

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization based in Washington D.C., has appointed Indian-American Navin Girishankar as the president of its newly established Economic Security and Technology Department. This new department aims to integrate various CSIS programs to provide research on economic and technology policies critical to U.S. national security. It will concentrate on key areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy security, critical minerals, and adv ..... Read More

Union Budget 2024: Angel Tax Abolition Ignites Cheers in Indian Startup Ecosystem

On Tuesday, the Indian startup ecosystem celebrated the Union Budget 2024’s decision to eliminate angel tax, which had been levied on funds raised by startups from angel investors. This move is seen as a significant boost for the startup community, aiming to enhance entrepreneurial activity and support innovation. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that the removal of angel tax is designed to strengthen the startup environment, stimulate entrepreneurship, and foster innovation. Varun Gupta, Co-Founder of BOULT, noted th ..... Read More

Hindi Film ‘Nafisa’ Makes History with Screening at Oxford Club

For the first time in independent India’s history, a Hindi film addressing socio-economic issues has been officially invited for screening at the Oxford University Club’s LISD. This prestigious honor highlights the significant impact of the film “Nafisa,” directed by Kumar Neeraj. The film, which delves into pressing humanitarian themes, has garnered international attention for its powerful content. The legal documentation for the film was compiled by Dr. Abhinav Kumar Shrivastava. The film’s teaser, which focuses ..... Read More

BAPS Hindu Temple Vandalized in Canada, India Demands Action

The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, has been defaced with hateful and anti-India graffiti amid growing Hinduphobia in the country. The Consulate General of India in Vancouver condemned the vandalism of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, emphasizing the need for Canadian authorities to investigate and address the incident swiftly. The BAPS organization, which oversees the temple, has yet to respond to the incident. No official action has been reported regarding the vandalism that occurred on Monday morning. Randy Boisson ..... Read More

PM Modi Heads to Drass: Celebrating 25 Years of Kargil Victory

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will journey to Drass in Ladakh on July 26 to honor the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. On Sunday, Ladakh’s Lt. Governor Brig (Retd) B D Mishra held a meeting at the secretariat to oversee preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit to the Kargil War Memorial in Drass. The Office of the Lt. Governor, Ladakh, shared on X that the Hon’ble Lt. Governor had reviewed the arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the memorial. LG Mishra emphasized the importance of timely com ..... Read More

Gabbard: Harris as President is Dangerous, Clinton’s Maidservant

Tulsi Gabbard, a Hindu-American former congressman, has voiced strong reservations about Kamala Harris potentially becoming the Democratic party’s presidential nominee following President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election in November. Gabbard contends that Harris lacks the qualifications and fitness required to assume the roles of president and commander-in-chief, expressing deep concerns over the potential dangers her leadership could pose to the nation. In a video statement, Gabbard asserted, “Biden’s out, K ..... Read More

Adelaide Creates Dedicated Site for Hindu Ash Scattering

When Rajendra Pandey started volunteering with Vishva Hindu Parishad Australia (South Australia), he aimed to create culturally sensitive services for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs. He identified a significant need in the South Asian community: a respectful and culturally appropriate location for scattering ashes. This led him to establish Harishchandra Ghat in Adelaide. Pandey explained that, traditionally, Hindus immerse ashes in flowing water after cremation to symbolize returning the body to nature. However, many community members ..... Read More

India’s GDP Growth Forecasted at 6.5-7% for FY25

In a recent parliamentary presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Economic Survey, which projects India’s GDP growth rate for the 2024-25 fiscal year to be between 6.5% and 7%. This optimistic forecast highlights the economy’s robust position despite global uncertainties. The survey notes that the global economic growth rate is expected to be 3.2% in 2023, according to the April World Economic Outlook. Variations in growth rates among countries are attributed to domestic structural challenges, differing leve ..... Read More

Amitabh Bachchan to Host Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 16 Starting August 12

The popular quiz-based reality show *Kaun Banega Crorepati*, hosted by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, will make its comeback with Season 16 on August 12. The show’s creators have revealed the premiere date with the tagline, “Zindagi hai, har mod par sawaal poochegi, jawaab toh dena hoga” (Life will ask questions at every turn, and you’ll have to answer). The teaser for the new season portrays various situations where individuals face challenges from those around them and are confronted with questions they must ans ..... Read More

India’s Export Triumph: Desi Products Leading the Global Charge

India’s economic landscape is undergoing a notable transformation as global supply chains increasingly shift towards the country. In a significant development, India is closing the gap with China and Vietnam in mobile phone exports. While mobile exports from China and Vietnam saw declines of 2.78% and 17.6%, respectively, India experienced a remarkable surge of 40.5%, capturing nearly half of the reduced exports from these countries. This shift is driven by the government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, which are beg ..... Read More

Key Takeaways from India’s Post-Election $576 Billion Budget

On Tuesday, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed an ambitious $576 billion spending plan for the current fiscal year. This budget, slightly above earlier estimates, is designed to stimulate manufacturing and job creation in the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The government will allocate 2.66 trillion rupees ($32 billion) specifically for rural development and introduce new programs in states governed by key coalition allies supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The updated budget projects spending of 48 ..... Read More

Thanedar’s Bill Set to Revolutionize H-1B Visas for STEM Graduates

Congressman Shri Thanedar, an Indian-American from Michigan, has introduced a groundbreaking bill, HR 9023, known as the Keep STEM Graduates in America Act. This proposed legislation could transform the H-1B visa system by increasing the annual visa cap and simplifying the application process, potentially offering significant benefits to Indian and international students alike. The Keep STEM Graduates in America Act is designed to address the challenges faced by graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. By ..... Read More